Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-26
what are you doing heref I de.

picture OF NOR
81 stood fairly transfixed at the au.
dacity of the imp. lie was Sigh,
clip of lad--perhaps twelve or thir
teen years old, with a small, childish
face as brown as nut. He had clawej
his hat oil "a he spoke, aud his hair fell
over his eyosin elhocks black as coal.
A red handkerchief was twisted round
his slender brown throat, and he had
stuck sprig of honeysuckle in his but
tonhole. He carried blackthorn stick,
and noticed he leaned upon it and
walked with limp. | took all this in
instinctively, suppose, for of my first
look at him ] remember nothing but
his eyes.
"1hey were cast down when he first
addressed me, but as he spoke up
swept the leavy black lashes and out
flashed from under the shadow of his
elAocks two great dazzling gray stars.
A positive shock seemed to pass through
me in that second--an odd, unaccount-
able thrill such as no boys eyes ever
caused in this world before. Perhaps
il was only the startling incongruity OF
those clear light glancing irises with
the coal-black brows and swarthy skin.
l couldn't resist provoking another
look.
"'Come, get ont of this. What
made you think of coming here ? >
The long lashes quivered, but never
lifted. He stood fumbling in the
bosom of his dingy waistcoat and
dragged ont a crnmpled piece of paper
folded and rofolded into a wad. Then
came the look had been waiting for
the sudden fash of gray lightning
from under the cloudy brows.
ga begging letter. eh 2 But l
took it and unfolded it very slowly,
watching the boys face as l did so. 1t
was clever face, square-chinned, with
q resolute, delicate mouth and impu-
dent, upturned nose. When he saw
that meant to read the letter grin of
delight showed all his cleaning teeth,
and he nodded to himself, as if no con-
sidered his business settled. Here's
the letter. You can see for yourself"
Moroni searched in his pocket-boOk
and found it.
My Dear Jake Although no friend,
as you are aware, to tramps and pikeys
such rs yourself, yet must say always
found you steady and well meaning,
Jake, and certainly of use in the mat
ter of Mr.. Blissett's sick COW, which is
why as friend | would not wish you to
hear unprepared that your poor mother,
coming home from hopping, was
knocked down by farm cart, Jim Da-
Wis driving and not as sober as he might
have been, and was taken for dead
to the county hospital, where she now
lies, as l saw with my own eyes
last visitors day, kept as COM
Portable as if she were a lady,
but almost ont of her mind with fret
ting after you, which is naturally very
trying to all about her. | want Jake (;
Just sight of Jake, she goes on con-
tInual, and keeps your old red handler
cherunder her pillow and talks to it like
Christian. Now, Jake. always liked
Won, and would never hear but that
there are two sides to story, even when
it is ones own fat Michaelmas goose.
There were other pikeys about besides
yourself. Jake, and | don't think you
would go to harm your friends, so do,
like a good boy, come back at once and
give the poor soul some comfort if you
was but to hear her Your friend as
you behave, LOUISA BLIssErT.
Il read this aloud to Teresita, who
came in with our boy in her arms.
"'Why don't you go? At once :
she cried.
1.-The boy hung his head and falter-
ed out a long explanation. Michael
had brought him thereto Belminster.
Michael was one of their tribe. They
had horse to sell, and nobody but he
Jake could manage it. 1t was point
of honor to stay.
but they told me-that you could
do my picture-as like as life-and L
could send it by one of our people.
"'How do yOu mean to pay for 1t 2
"'When the horse is sold he be-
gan eagerly.
Thank you, my good boy, but I
don't work on credit.
"'Ah, the poor child = Teresita
broke in. Think, Cesarino MIC, it is
for his mother. We are poor, dread
fully poor, but we can help him, and
the Holy Mother above will not let us
he the poorer.
eff Teresita had set her heart upon
it that was quite sufficient without the
interposition Of the saints Come this
way, / said, not too cordially. But
the lad stood staring stupidity and
facedly. Don't you want it
after all 2
"Ihen he made q sudden dash at
Teresita and kissed her hand. 'You
are a good, good woman = he cried
with chok6d voice, and shall not be
robbed by me. 1 will pay you. L
swear by Heaven-pr6 my mullOs
dddqs > Then he followed me.
"There were the usual stock proper
ties about, among others low rustic
paling. | was studying how to pose
him when he spied this, dragged it
forward, and had kicked off his two
unmatched mud-weighted boots and
had sprung astride of the top rail in an
instant, his slender brown feet lightly
twisted together, his old cap full OF
hazel tvigs and nuts between his
knees-as perfect picture as ! could
have wished to make. His spirits went
up and his eyes danced; he began to
whistle and sing snatches of songs
and make grimaces at the baby,
who CAPPED at him open-mouthed
over 1ercsita' S shoulder. Yet he could
be still. 1t was marvel to me now,
but there / had the quaint roguish
smile and flashing upward glance crys-
tallized under my fingers at will. !
became fascinated with my work and
took negative after negative. The
light was strong and clear, and pro-
missed to print him proof before he
left. He would not trust to my send
ing it--wouldn't tell me where to
find him in Delminster, or the
name OF the hospital where his
mother was Then while | was
preparing plate he began to sing. L
couldn't understand a word of the song,
but il made me feel like crying, till he
gave whistle and stamp, and, snap
ping his fingers, started off into dance
with a chorus that set Teresita clapping
her hands and capering, and the baby
jumping and growing with ecstasy.
Before he left he had confded to us
the whole story of the missing Mich
aelmas goose with such wonderful MIN
icry Of speech and action that even